Punching mechanism



Feb. 11, 1936. A. H. DICKINSON PUNCHING MECHANISM Filed March 24, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet l M R. w. m V H A h w Ws m N. 1 N F o @k/ I 1 SW 0 w. S 3 0m A 35 1 I. 3 3 J O m om Mm G W w mm .5 mm m 5 \QQ L IN hm wwfi wwwwwwwwlll A. H. DICKINSON PUNCHING MECHANISM Feb. 11, 1936.

"Filed March 24, 1934 2 sheets-sheet 2 I klilVENTOR WW ATTORNEY FIGRPatented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE 'PUNCHING MECHANISMApplication March 24, 1934, .Serial N0. 717,170

8 Claims.

This invention relates to punching or perforating machines and moreparticularly :to machines of the type in which the punching may becontrolled manually or by a previously punched card.

Machines of this type are well known in the art and are illustrated inPatent No. 1,772,186,

granted August 5, 1930 to Lee and Phillips. In

this machine, a previously punched card is placed in the reading orsensing section of the machine and the columns thereof successively readby electric contact devices. Concurrently a blank card is advancedcolumn by-column across a row of punches which are actuated undercontrol of the analyzing devices to perforate corresponding informationin the blank card.

It is frequently desirable to have the information reproduced not as anexact replica; for example, data in the field of a pre-punched car-drepresenting a number may be accompanied by an identifying perforationmade in the well known X index point position of one of the columns. Inaccordance with some accounting systems, this X perforation may identifythe number as having a negative value and the absence of suchperforation may denote that the number has a positive value. Foraccounting purposes it may be desired to duplicate the information on agroup of cards in which such sign 7 identifying perforations are presentbut it is required that the sign be changed; that is, that all numberspreviously indicated as positive be represented as negative and viceversa. It may also be desired that the identifying perforation be madein a different column than in the original card. The machine is furtherprovided with means whereby certain fields which have .an accompanyingX. perforation will be reproduced without omitting or disturbing thelocation of the X punching; that is, in such field the duplication willbe exact in all respects.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be obviousfrom the following particular description .of one form of mechanismembodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanyingdrawings; and the invention also constitutes certain new and novelfeatures of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forthand claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a wiring diagram of the electric circuits of thepunch, including the card carrying mechanism in perspective outline.

Figxla is a detail sectional view of certain circuit controllingdevices.

Fig. 2 is a section of the essential operating mechanism of thepunch.

Fig. 3 is a detail of-a punch :magnet operating contact mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a fragment "of 'a record card which is to control the punchingmechanism.

Fig. 5 is a fragment of a record card punched under control :of thevcard'in Fig. 4.

The punching mechanism is generally of the form shown in the Lee andPhillips Patent No. 1,772,186, .above'referred to, and also as shown inPatent No. 1,921,408, granted August 8, 1933 to' W. F. :Gutgesell. Thedescription thereof will accordinglybe limited to those featuresessential to an understanding of the present invention. In Fig. 2, punchselecting magnets H] are provided, there being one for each index pointposition of therecord card.

Energizationof magnet I 0 will attract its armature to rock an arm H ina counterclockwise direction about its pivot -tl2, thus moving key l3downwardly to rock a bell crank M which has connection withan interposert5 suitably mounted for horizontal reciprocation. The forward end ofinterposer 15 is suitably guided between an operating bar 16 and theupper end of a punchll.

Forward movement of the interposer will position its widest portionbetween bar l6 and punch ll so that subsequent counterclockwise rockingof bar I'S about pivot 18 will move the interposer and punch downwardlyto perforate the record card B2. A .notch 20 in the interposercooperates-with a bail 2| to rock the same in a counterclockwisedirection when the interposer is moved toward the left. Rocking of bail2| in such manner will draw .a hook-shaped member 22 (see Fig.3) towardthe left to close a pair of contacts 23. Closure of contacts 23completes a circuit through the punch magnet 24, causing it to attractits armature 25 and through linkage generally designated 26 drawdownwardly on the bar IE to cause depression of the selected punch.Depression of key l3 may, of course, be effected independently of theoperation of the magnet ill for the purpose of manually controllingpunching operations.

Disposed beneath the interposers I5 is a bail 21 which is carried by rod28 upon one end of which is secured an arm 29 for operating theescapement mechanism. Rocking of arm 29 (see Fig. 1) will lower holdingpawl 30 into engagement with ratchet teeth 3| and will raise steppingpawl 30a out of engagement therewith and one oscillation .of arm '29will serve to permit advance of the escapement rack 32 one space. Therack 32 is suitably mounted for horizontal movement in the frame of themachine and may be manually moved toward the right to the position shownin Fig. 1, wherein a blank record card R2 is placed in position with thefirst column thereof in line with the row of punches l1.

.Gear teeth out on the underside of the rack cooperate with suitablegearing 33 which is connected to the usual spring barrel 34 which tendsto move the rack toward the left and which effects such movement undercontrol of the escapement mechanism. Rack 32 is provided with extensions35 and 36 between which the prepunched or controlling card RI ispositioned and which is adapted to be moved to pass a row of analyzingbrushes 31 as the card R2 moves by the punches I1. Brushes 31 cooperatewith a contact roller 38 through the perforations in card RI. Thebrushes are carried by a bar 39 which is normally in the position shownholding the brushes down out of engagement with the card RI. A magnet 40upon energizat'ion will attract its armature 4I actuating linkage 42 tocause upward movement of brushes 31 into engagement with the recordcard. This brush operating structure is fully shown and described inPatent No. 1,878,935, issued September 20, 1932 to F. L. Lee to whichreference may be had for further details of construction.

There are twelve brushes 31, one for each of the index point positionsof the record card. These brushes are connected through a cable 43 withpunch selecting magnets Ill with the exception of the brush thattraverses the X index point positions. The X brush 31 is connected forthe purposes of the present invention through a wire 44 to the commoncontact blade of pairs of contacts C3 and C4. When the machine is usedfor straight duplicating operations switches 45, 46 and 41 are set intheir dotted line positions and the X brush 31 will be connected throughwire 44, contacts C3, switch 45, wire 48, X magnet I0, wire 49, contactsCI, switch 41 (in dotted line position) to wire 50 to which the othermagnets II] are also connected.

The occurrence of one or more perforations in any column of the recordcard RI will complete a circuit through corresponding magnets I andpunching will take place in the same positions in the correspondingcolumn of the record card R2. A representative circuit may be traceableas follows, assuming a perforation present in the index point positionof a column of card RI: from line through switch S, wire 5I, safetycontacts 52, 53, wire 54, contact roller 38, perforation in the recordcard, 5 brush 31, cable 43, 5 magnet I0, wire-50, to switch S.Energization of the 5 magnet ID will advance the correspondinginterposer and will also close the contacts 23, thereby energizing thepunch magnet 24 to cause perforation of the card R2. Thus far, theoperation of the punch is similar to that described in the patentsreferred to.

Before describing the mechanism in further detail, reference will bemade to Figs. 4 and 5 to illustrate a problem typical of those which themachine is arranged to perform.

Card RI of Fig. 4 may have four separate fields each of four columncapacity. The numerical data in the index point position 0 to 9 is to beexactly duplicated in the record card R2 but the perforations in the Xindex point position are to be altered as follows: The X punching incolumn 2 of card RI is to be omitted and X punching is to be added incolumn 8 of card R2, where there is no corresponding hole in card RI.The perforation of column 11 of RI is to be omitted and the Xperforation in column 13 is to be reproduced in the same column of thecard R2. The X perforation may indicate that the value perforated in theassociated field is negative. Thus in Fig. 4, the first, third andfourth fields have negative amounts and the second field contains apositive amount.

In accordance with the particular accounting system, the sign of thesevalues has changed and it is desired to reproduce a card in which thenew or changed signs will appear on the card. Thus in Fig. 5, the firstand third fields are now positive, the second is negative, and thefourth has remained negative. As a practical illustration of theoccurrence of such sign changing, the data perforated in, let us say,the first field of card RI may represent a quantity of goods in stockand the same field of card R2 may represent the same quantity of goodstaken out of stock.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the arm 36 has mounted thereon a brush carrier55 provided with pairs of electrically connected brushes 56 and 51. Oneof the brushes 56 traverses a common conducting strip 58 and the otherbrush traverses segments 59. One of the brushes 51 traverses a commonconducting strip 60 and a plurality of segments 6I. There is a segment59 and a segment 6| for each columnar position of the cards and thebrushes 56 and 51 connect their corresponding segments to the strips 58and 60 re spec'tively, as the correspondingly numbered columns of thecards RI and R2 are in cooperation with the brushes 31 and punches I1respectively. A row of plug sockets 62 is provided from which plugconnections 63 may be made to sockets 64 of the segments 59. A secondrow of sockets 65 is provided from which similar plug connections 66 maybe made to sockets 61 of the segments 6I. The operation of the devicemay now be described with particular reference to the exampleillustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

In the first field of card RI it is desired to eliminate thereproduction of the X perforation in column 2. Accordingly, a plugconnection 63 is made between one of the sockets 62 and socket 64associated with the second column. A similar connection is made in theeighth position where the X perforation is to be added to card R2 and athird connection is made in the eleventh columnar position. In thefourth field, where it is desired toreproduce the X punching, aconnection 66 is made between sockets 65 and 61 associated with thethirteenth column and plugs 68 (see also Fig. 1a) are inserted from therear of the panel 69 so that the segments 6I of the columns of thisfield are electrically connected to one another. For this operation,switches 45, 46, and 41 are thrown to their full line positions and withthe cards in position to analyze and punch in the first column, thiscolumn will be reproduced as explained above and the carriage willescape to the second column in which the X punching occurs in card RIand a circuit will be immediately completed under control of the Xperforation which is traceable from switch S, wire 5|, contacts 52, 53,wire 54, contact roller 38, X brush 31, wire 44, contacts C3, switch 45,relay magnet 10, to switch S. Magnet will open its contacts 10a whichare now in series with the X magnet I8 and prevent the completion of thecircuit through this magnet due to the fact that magnet: 10: is quickacting and will openits contacts before the X magnet I6 can operate.Consequently, column 2 of card R2 will receive only the perforation inthe 8 index point position.

card RI, the machine would automatically effect and:X punching incoIumnZ of card R2. This is brought about as follows. With the cards inposition to sense and punch the second position, a circuit is completedfrom switch S, wire 50, contacts Illa. (now closed since there is no Xperforation present), switch 41, contacts CI, wire 49, X magnet I 0,contacts C2, switch 46, wire II, plug socket 62, connection 63, andsocket 64 associated with column 2, brushes 56, common connector 58,wire I2, contacts 53, 52, wire 5I, back to switch S. Accordingly, an Xperforation would be made in column 2. The reproducing then proceeds incolumns 3 to 7.

In the eighth column, the absence of the X perforation in the card RIwill cause completion of the circuit just traced and such perforationwill be made in card R2 since in that column there is a plug connection63. Normal duplicating will then proceed until the card arrives atcolumn 11 where the X punching in card RI will be eliminated on card R2due to the energization of relay III which, by opening its contactsIlla, prevents the completion of the circuit through connection 63 inthis position. Upon arrival of the thirteenth column of card RI to theanalyzing brushes, the brushes 5'! will be in contact with the plugconnected segment 6I of this position and a circuit will immediately becompleted which is traceable from line through switch S, wire 56, wire13, relay magnet I4, wire 15, conducting strip 60, brushes 51, segment6| associated with column I3, socket 61, connection 56, socket 65, wireI6, contacts 52, wire 5|, to switch S.

Energization of relay magnet 14 will cause closure of contacts C4 and C5and opening of contacts CI, C2 and C3. Opening of contacts C3 willprevent energization of relay magnet Ill and opening of contacts CIdisconnects the circuit through contacts Illa. Closure of contacts C5will complete a circuit from switch S, wire 50, wire '11, contacts C5,wire 49, X magnet l0, wire 48, contacts C4, wire 44, X brush 31, contactroller 38, wire 54, contacts 53, 52, to switch S. The energization ofrelay magnet 14 thus permits the duplication of the X perforation underthe direct control of the perforation in the RI card. The fourth fieldon the card RI may be one in which several other columns may haveperforations which are to be reproduced and in such circumstances it isnot desirable to make a separate plug connection 56 for each columnwhereby relay magnet 14 would be repeatedly energized and againdeenergized between columns.

The connecting plugs 68 are therefore provided and inserted from therear of the panel 69 so that one continuous electrical connection isprovided between all the orders associated with this field and relaymagnet I4 after energization during the analysis of the first column ofthe field will remain energized during the analysis of the remainingcolumns of the field and if such columns contain X perforations, theywill be reproduced directly, in the same manner as explained for thefirst column of this field.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamentalnovel features of If there were no X punching in column 2v of theinvention as applied to a single modification, it will beunderstood'that various omissions and substitutions. and. changes in theform and detailsof' the device illustrated and in its operation maybemadeby those skilled in the art without departing'from the spirit of theinvention. It is the. intention-therefore.to be limited only asindicated by the scope of the following claims.-

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a perforated card reproducing machine, means for analyzing a fieldof a record card in which a characteristic perforation may be present,means for perforating a field of another card under control of the fieldof the first card to reproduce all perforations other than thecharacteristic perforation, and automatically eifective upon analysis ofthe index point position of the characteristic perforation forsuppressing the reproduction of a corresponding perforation if one ispresent in the analyzed card and for effecting a' characteristicperforation if there is none in said analyzed card.

2. In a perforated card reproducing machine, means for analyzing acolumn of a card in which one or two index point positions may beperforated, means for punching a column of another card, and meanscontrolled by said analyzing means for causing said punching means topunch one hole in the second named card when there are two in the firstand to punch two holes when only one is present in the first card.

3. In a perforated card controlled machine, means for analyzing a fieldof a record card having data representing perforations therein and inwhich the presence or absence of a perforation in a predeterminedposition indicates the arithmetical sign of the data, punching meanscontrolled by said analyzing means to reproduce the analyzed data inanother card and further means controlled by said analyzing means forchanging the arithmetical sign indication of the data punched.

4. In a card reproducing system, means for analyzing an index pointposition of a record, means independent of said analyzing means forpunching another position of a card column, a relay and a circuitcontrolled thereby for causing punching in said other position if nohole is present in the analyzed position and means controlled by saidanalyzing means for operating said relay to open said circuit forsuppressing punching if a hole is present in the analyzed position.

5. In a machine of the class described, means for analyzing an indexpoint position of a record card, a punch, controlling means, independentof said analyzing means for controlling said punch, means cooperatingwith said analyzing means for suppressing the operation of said punchcontrolling means if a hole is present in the analyzed position and foreffecting an operation of said punch controlling means if no hole ispresent in the analyzed position.

6. In a card reproducing machine, means for analyzing a record column bycolumn, means for punching a second record column by column undercontrol of said analyzing means, and set table means cooperating withsaid analyzing means for causing said punching means to perforateselected columns with an equal, greater or lesser number of perforationsthan are present in the corresponding analyzed column.

7. In a card reproducing system, means for analyzing a predeterminedindex point position of a card column, a punch for effecting aperforation in a corresponding index point position of 8. The inventionset forth in claim '7 in which another card column, means normallyoperative settable means is provided for rendering said to cause anoperation of said punch and means punch normally ineffective andresponsive only controlled by said analyzing means upon sensing to thepresence of a perforation in the predetera perforation in saidpredetermined index point mined position whereby a duplicate perforation5 position for preventing operation of said punch to will be made in thesaid corresponding position. perforate said corresponding index pointposition. ARTHUR H. DICKINSON.

